Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity in America. So many excuses come to mind when I hear about people’s reasons for their poor diet. “It’s too expensive to eat right”, “it doesn’t taste good”, “it’s inconvenient”, and even “it’s not that bad for you”! Don’t get stuck in denial about what you are using to fuel your body. Your stomach is not a garbage dump! Be conscious of what you are putting in…the better the fuel, the better your performance.
Americans are overfed and undernourished. There is obviously a lack of understanding about what all those grams and percentages mean on food labels. It is an unfortunate fact that Americans depend so much on “convenience” foods that are actually putting their health at risk. Fast-food has become a sad part of our culture that is leading to higher and higher obesity rates. The food industry has become so clever as to market bad foods as “good for you,” which often times confuses consumers who are trying to make healthy choices. What does your diet consist of? It might be time to take a closer look.
Do you really know what is going into your body? When we eat pre-packaged foods we are subjecting ourselves to whatever the food company has used to help preserve the food and make it taste good. It is usually loaded with sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and other preservatives. Beware at restaurants as well…heavy entrees may taste good but realize that all that extra butter and oil are adding up. You can’t see how the food is being prepared- eat it at your own risk! It is ok to make special requests like having your entree steamed or grilled without butter or cheese, or ordering vegetables plain and a fresh salad with dressings on the side. Take control of your diet and be aware of what’s going in. Eating a variety of whole foods ensures that your body is getting all the vitamins and nutrients it needs for proper functioning. Food journals can be a helpful tool if you are trying to stay on top of your daily caloric intake.
We only get one body. If we do not take care of it by choosing foods that benefit how our bodies work rather than according to our taste or our mood, we will stay enslaved to the few big corporations that run our nation's food industry. Do you really want to serve your family sugar coated, fat-filled, bleached, refined, syrup-glazed, oily, artificially-flavored, genetically-mutated, chemically-altered, deep-fried, over-sauced, cream-covered meals? They may provide a temporary pleasurable experience, but the compounded internal damage over time puts your health at risk. Eat healthy foods for an extended amount of time and you will eventually crave that rather than junk food. Remember this: If it grows in the ground, it’s good! Next time you resist that doughnut, reward yourself! (but NOT with a Frosty!) Let’s show America that we can overcome this obesity epidemic!
Livestrong.com offers some great tools including recipes, food logs,
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